The FIRST Stop Bus will be parked in Hosier Street on December 21, 27, 28 and on New Year’s Eve

Night-time revellers who fall ill in the town centre over the festive season will be treated at a new mobile medical facility.

Reading’s FIRST Stop Bus will have a team of medical staff and first-aiders to treat minor injuries.

The service is to ease the burden on A&E departments and is set to become a permanent feature in the town centre every Friday and Saturday night next year.

Councillor Graeme Hoskin, Reading’s lead councillor for health, said: “Our wide variety of pubs, clubs and restaurants that attract people from Reading and beyond are an important part of the town’s leisure offering and contribute significantly to the local economy.

“We want to ensure people can have an enjoyable night out, but should something happen, such as an injury or sudden illness, the FIRST Stop Bus is here to help.”

The team will work with street pastors, door staff, police, ambulance and A&E.

The FIRST – First aid, Information, Refuge, Safety and Treatment – Stop Bus will be parked in Hosier Street on December 21, 27, 28 and on New Year’s Eve.

It will then be in the town centre every Friday and Saturday night between 9pm and 4am and will be used in the daytime to provide health checks and for other educational purposes.

A similar pilot scheme last Christmas treated 37 people, of which 26 could otherwise have gone to the Royal Berkshire Hospital emergency department.

It is estimated to have saved up to 94 hours of police time.

Town centre police inspector Keith Stacey said: “We aim to support the excellent work of the hospital accident and emergency departments and to try to deal with as many people as possible who require treatment and therefore reduce attendances at A&E and reduce waiting times.

“The bus will also be available for certain groups for outreach work and will not just be used as a first aid facility.”

Dr Elizabeth Johnson, chairwoman of NHS Reading Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The FIRST Stop Bus provides us with an opportunity to contact our hard to reach groups in a more innovative way which will help us to provide support and information around prevention.”

The FIRST Stop Bus is a partnership between Reading Borough Council, Reading Local Strategic Partnership, Thames Valley Police, South Central Ambulance Service, The Department for Communities and Local Government and the NHS.

The project is also supported by Reading Buses, Reading University, Reading BID, South East Coaches, Hanover Display, Reading Football Club, St John’s Ambulance, Reading Voluntary Action and the Street Pastors.

The bus will be on show at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday before the Reading v Wigan match before being driven to the town centre to start its first operational shift from 9pm – 4am.